eExtra

eExtra is a South African general-entertainment television channel operated within the e.tv and eMedia Holdings network. It was created from the earlier eKasi+ service, one of a group of additional channels developed by e.tv for South Africa's planned digital terrestrial television environment. While the wider digital migration programme was being coordinated, the channels began distribution through Openview HD, a South African free-to-view satellite platform associated with eMedia, and through other pay-television services. The eKasi+ service was introduced alongside eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+ as part of e.tv's expansion beyond its main broadcast channel. The channel was later carried by StarSat from 17 December 2015. On 1 April 2017, eKasi+ was relaunched and renamed eExtra, with distribution on Openview HD and StarSat. Its carriage was expanded to DStv on 17 May 2017, giving the channel access to one of South Africa's largest subscription television platforms. The channel's programming is built around broad, accessible entertainment rather than a single genre. Its schedule has included telenovelas, scripted drama, sitcoms, films, reality programming and American court shows. International drama and serial content has been sourced from or associated with suppliers and networks including Turkish broadcasters, Telemundo, Zee TV, Colors TV, SET India and SBS. Many of the imported serials are dubbed into English for the South African audience. A notable programming development was the launch of Kuiertyd in October 2018. This Afrikaans-language block concentrated mainly on dubbed Turkish telenovelas and also included a daily 20:00 news bulletin. The block helped give eExtra a more clearly localized identity while retaining the channel's emphasis on serialized drama. In June 2021, the eKasi name was reused for an eReality programming block, linking the current channel to its predecessor without reversing the eExtra brand identity. In April 2022, eMedia announced plans for a dedicated Turkish-content channel provisionally known as ePlesier, reflecting the popularity and strategic importance of that programming category. eExtra's distribution history has also been shaped by a carriage dispute between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice, the operator associated with DStv. The channel was scheduled for removal from DStv in April 2022, but remained available for approximately two additional months while eMedia pursued proceedings before South Africa's Competition Tribunal concerning the parties' carriage arrangements. eExtra and several sister services subsequently ceased transmission on DStv at the end of May 2022. They were reinstated in August 2022 for a further six-month period while the dispute and related investigation remained unresolved. By the end of August 2024, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice had settled their dispute regarding the affected channels. The available reference material does not specify the final commercial terms or the channel's long-term carriage details after that settlement. The brand's core proposition is therefore a South African entertainment service combining imported serial drama, localized language presentation and general programming. Its principal distribution context is domestic: Openview HD provides its main satellite platform context, while its presence on StarSat and DStv has varied over time because of platform and carriage arrangements.

eExtra developed from e.tv's effort to create a portfolio of additional channels for South Africa's emerging digital terrestrial television environment. The initial group included eKasi+, eToonz+, eMovies+ and eAfrica+. Because the rollout of digital terrestrial television was still being coordinated, the channels first gained practical distribution through Openview HD and other satellite platforms rather than relying solely on the eventual terrestrial system. The predecessor service, eKasi+, was added to StarSat on 17 December 2015. On 1 April 2017, it was relaunched as eExtra on Openview HD and StarSat. The new name positioned the channel as a wider general-entertainment service rather than a channel defined principally by its original eKasi identity. DStv added eExtra on 17 May 2017, increasing its potential reach among South African subscription-TV households. Programming has included telenovelas, dramas, sitcoms, movies, reality shows and American court programmes. Imported serials have come from several international television ecosystems, including Turkish networks, Telemundo, Zee TV, Colors TV, SET India and SBS. The channel has commonly presented such programmes in English-dubbed form, adapting international drama formats for local viewers. In October 2018, eExtra introduced Kuiertyd, an Afrikaans-language programming block focused largely on dubbed Turkish telenovelas. The block also carried a daily 20:00 news bulletin. Its schedule included a substantial range of serialized dramas, including titles such as Elif, Stiletto Vendetta, Annekan Die Swa Kry, Die Put, Dr Ali, Fenix, Chrysalis and Kurt En Shura. In June 2021, the eKasi label was revived for an eReality block, maintaining a connection with the channel's earlier branding. In April 2022, a dedicated Turkish-oriented service called ePlesier was announced as a planned addition to the brand family. Carriage on DStv became the subject of a significant commercial and regulatory dispute. eMedia announced that eExtra and three other e.tv services were expected to leave DStv on 1 April 2022. eMedia Investments filed an application with South Africa's Competition Tribunal concerning its carriage agreement with MultiChoice, and the channels remained on DStv for about two additional months during the initial phase of the dispute. At the end of May 2022, eExtra, eToonz, eMovies and eMovies Extra ceased transmission on DStv. In August 2022, the affected channels were reinstated for another six months while the pending investigation continued. By the end of August 2024, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice had settled their dispute. The available reference does not establish all subsequent carriage terms. eExtra's historical role is that of a domestic entertainment channel within eMedia's multi-channel strategy. Its identity has been shaped by three recurring elements: the reuse and refinement of e.tv's secondary-channel brands, the localization of international serial drama through dubbing and Afrikaans presentation, and the practical importance of satellite and pay-TV distribution agreements.

• 2024

  Carriage dispute settled

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  eMedia Investments and MultiChoice settled their dispute concerning the affected e.tv channels by the end of August.

• 2022

  DStv carriage interruption

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  After a carriage dispute, eExtra ceased transmission on DStv at the end of May, following an extension of its availability.

• 2022

  Temporary DStv reinstatement

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  eExtra returned to DStv in August for a further six-month period while the dispute was being investigated.

• 2021

  eKasi name revived for eReality

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  The eKasi branding returned as the name of an eReality programming block in June.

• 2018

  Kuiertyd introduced

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  The channel launched its Afrikaans Kuiertyd block in October, emphasizing dubbed Turkish serial drama.

• 2017

  Launch of eExtra

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  eKasi+ was rebranded as eExtra on 1 April 2017 on Openview HD and StarSat.

• 2017

  DStv distribution began

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  eExtra was added to DStv on 17 May 2017.

• 2015

  eKasi+ added to StarSat

  [1]EExtraen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor channel eKasi+ began carriage on StarSat on 17 December 2015.

A broadly accessible South African entertainment channel combining dubbed international serial drama, Afrikaans-language programming and general entertainment for satellite and pay-television audiences.

• Television channel · 2017

  eExtra

  The core eExtra service is a South African general-entertainment television channel. Its schedule combines telenovelas, scripted drama, sitcoms, movies, reality programming and American court shows. A significant share of its serial content is imported and dubbed into English, with material associated with Turkish networks, Telemundo, Zee TV, Colors TV, SET India and SBS. The channel has been distributed through Openview HD, StarSat and, at various times, DStv.

• Afrikaans programming block · 2018

  Kuiertyd

  Kuiertyd is an Afrikaans-language block introduced on eExtra in October 2018. It mainly presents dubbed Turkish telenovelas and includes a daily 20:00 news bulletin. The block localizes the channel's international serial-drama offer for Afrikaans-speaking viewers while preserving the continuing-episode format associated with telenovelas.

• Planned television channel

  ePlesier

  ePlesier was announced in April 2022 as a proposed dedicated channel focused on Turkish programming. The available reference material does not confirm its final launch, operating status or distribution arrangements.

• 2022

  Response to DStv carriage disputeStrategy

  Background

  MultiChoice planned to remove eExtra and several other eMedia channels from DStv, leading eMedia Investments to seek Competition Tribunal involvement.

  Action taken

  eMedia pursued a regulatory application while the channels remained available for an interim period, and later accepted temporary reinstatement during the investigation.

  Aftermath

  The channels were removed at the end of May, reinstated in August for another six months, and the broader dispute was settled in 2024.

  Source

• 2018

  Launch of the Kuiertyd localization blockStrategy

  Background

  eExtra's schedule relied substantially on imported serial drama, including Turkish telenovelas.

  Action taken

  The channel introduced an Afrikaans-language block featuring dubbed Turkish telenovelas and a daily evening news bulletin.

  Aftermath

  The block gave eExtra a more distinct localized programming proposition.

  Source

• 2017

  Rebrand from eKasi+ to eExtraProduct launch

  Background

  e.tv was developing a portfolio of secondary television services while South Africa's digital-terrestrial rollout was being coordinated.

  Action taken

  The eKasi+ service was relaunched under the eExtra name on 1 April 2017 and distributed on Openview HD and StarSat.

  Aftermath

  DStv added the renamed channel on 17 May 2017.

  Source

1. 1EExtraen.wikipedia.org
2. 2eExtra official websiteetv.co.za